Michelle Bachelet sworn-in as President of Chile for second term

Michelle Bachelet was sworn-in as the President of Chile in Valparaiso. The 62-year old Michelle, the socialist leader took the oath of the office on 11 March 2014. She succeeded the conservative President Sebastian Pinera.

In the Presidential election conducted in December 2013, Michelle won 62 percent of the vote in the second round against the 38 percent vote won by the conservative leader Evelyn Matthei.

This is her second term in the office and with this swearing-in she became the first Chilean President in over half a century to return for the second term.

The presidential sash was accepted by her from Isabel Allende, the President of Senate and this passage of the sash from one woman to another has happened for the first time in Chile’s history.

After swearing-in some of the major challenges before her are to bring reform in political and economic structures that dates back to 1973-1990 during the dictatorship of Gen Pinochet. She will also have to bring in changes to offer free education along with reducing income disparity and reform healthcare.

Earlier, she held the position of the President of Chile between 2006 and 2010. In the first term as the President, she was the first female president of Chile. Constitution of Chile that is one of the richest countries in Latin America barred immediate re-election of Michelle to the Presidential post.